DxDiscovery CEO Thomas Kozel, right, and chief science officer David AuCoin. Both are the co-founders of the biotech company, which uses research they developed at the University of Nevada, Reno.

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Like many students faced with graduation, all David Maine wanted was to find work.

"I would've been absolutely content with just getting a normal job once I was finished with my master's degree," the University of Nevada, Reno economics student said. "In fact, I was already seeking employment in San Jose (Calif.)."

While interning at the Nevada System of Higher Education's Technology Transfer Office, however, Maine learned about a startup project that was just getting off the ground last year. The biotech company created by UNR researchers needed a numbers guy. ...